Youngstown City Public Water System

The U.S. EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure tap water safety. Similarly, the FDA regulates bottled water contaminants to provide equivalent public health protection. Municipal water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells.

Water naturally collects minerals, and sometimes radioactive materials, as it flows across land surfaces or through underground layers. It may also pick up substances from animal presence or human activities. Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, or wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Naturally occurring or human-sourced salts and metals from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: From agricultural activities, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

For additional information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the U.S. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

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